Ultra Wide
0.6×
ƒ/1.9
50MP · Autofocus
Samsung Galaxy Camera Settings Guide
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Camera Settings
Apple iPhone
Google Pixel
Recommended Setup
Open Camera, tap Quick controls (four dots), then Settings, and match these
Intelligent features
Photo enhancer
Prioritize quality
Scene optimizer
On
Shot suggestions
On
Photos
Photo format
High efficiency (HEIF)
Videos
Auto FPS
Off
Video stabilization
On
High efficiency videos
On
HDR videos
On
General
Tracking auto focus
On
Composition guide
On
Shooting methods
Volume: Take pictures
Camera → Quick controls (four dots) → Settings
Resolution and frame rate stay in Quick controls: tap Resolution for 12MP / 24MP / 200MP, and the FHD / UHD / 8K chips for video.
12 / 24MP
Photo resolution
Prioritize quality unlocks 24MP at 0.6–1.9× and 5–9.9×. Switch to 200MP on the Wide camera only in good light when you need to crop.
4K · 30
Video resolution
The balance of quality, heat, and file size. Save 8K and 4K 120fps for short clips that need the extra detail.
HEIF + HDR
Capture format
Smaller stills with richer color. Leave Scene optimizer on; leave Log and APV off until you plan to grade.
Pro mode tip: Swipe to Pro mode for manual ISO, shutter, focus, white balance, and EV. Expert RAW (Galaxy Store, then the More tab) saves a JPEG plus a 16-bit Linear DNG.
Best Photo Settings
Recommended settings for the six most common shooting scenarios on Galaxy S26 Ultra
Portrait
Portrait Mode
Lens3× Telephoto
FormatJPEG / HEIF
BlurAdjust in Gallery after
EffectNatural or Studio
TipUse 1× for environmental portraits
Landscape
Photo Mode / Expert RAW
LensUltra Wide (0.6×)
FormatRAW via Expert RAW
Scene optimizerOn
Composition guideOn
TipTap sky to lock exposure
Night
Night Mode
LensWide (1×)
Night modeTap the moon icon
FlashOff
StabilityBrace or tripod
TipExpert RAW astrophoto for stars
Action / Sports
Photo Mode
Lens5× Telephoto
BurstHold shutter or Vol Down
Tracking AFOn
FormatHEIF for speed
TipTry Single Take for variety
Street
Photo Mode
Lens1× Wide
FormatHEIF
Scene optimizerOn
Motion photosOff
TipDouble-press Side button to launch
Macro
Photo Mode
LensUltra Wide (auto-macro)
DistanceClose-up; tap to lock focus
FormatHEIF or Expert RAW
LightAvoid casting phone shadow
TipTap subject to lock focus
Best Video Settings
Resolution, frame rate, and codec combinations Samsung lists for the S26 Ultra. New to phone video? Start with the video basics guide.
Recommended Presets
8K
30fps
Maximum detail
4K
30fps
Best all-round
4K
60fps
Smooth motion
4K
120fps
Slow motion
1080p
30fps
Smaller files
APV
Log / HDR
Grade later
| Use Case | Resolution | FPS | Codec | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Media Best | 4K | 30 | HEVC (H.265) | HDR videos on |
| Maximum Detail | 8K | 30 | HEVC or APV | Large files; keep clips short |
| Color Grading | 4K / 8K | 24 / 30 | APV or HEVC Log | Camera settings → Video format. Grade it with a LUT from Envato Elements. |
| Slow Motion | 4K | 120 | H.265 | UHD slow motion; 4× at 30fps playback |
| Action / walking | 4K | 30 / 60 | H.265 | Super Steady + Horizontal Lock |
8K and APV: Samsung lists 8K at 30fps and APV at 8K 24–30fps or UHD/FHD/HD 24–120fps. APV 4K 30 HQ is listed at 796 Mbps, about 6 GB per minute. For most clips, 4K 30fps with High efficiency videos is the practical default.
Camera System
Four rear cameras. Optical 3× and 5×, plus 2× and 10× optical-quality zoom
Wide (Main)
1×
ƒ/1.4
200MP · 2× optical quality
3× Telephoto
3× optical
ƒ/2.4
10MP · Autofocus
5× Telephoto
5× optical
ƒ/2.9
50MP · 10× optical quality
| Spec | Ultra Wide | Main (Wide) | 3× Telephoto | 5× Telephoto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 50MP | 200MP | 10MP | 50MP |
| Zoom | 0.6× | 1× (2× optical quality) | 3× optical | 5× optical (10× optical quality) |
| Aperture | ƒ/1.9 | ƒ/1.4 | ƒ/2.4 | ƒ/2.9 |
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Zoom: 3× and 5× are optical. 2× and 10× are optical-quality, enabled by the Adaptive Pixel sensor. Space Zoom includes 10× optical-quality and 100× digital. Distances past 10× may show some image deterioration.
Key Features
What changed on the S26 Ultra camera versus the S25 Ultra
200MP ƒ/1.4 Wide
The Wide camera opens to ƒ/1.4, 47% more light than the S25 Ultra ƒ/1.7, for Nightography stills and video.
New in S2650MP ƒ/2.9 5×
Same 50MP 5× reach, now ƒ/2.9 for 37% more light at full optical zoom, plus 10× optical-quality crops.
BrighterAPV + Log
First Galaxy with the APV codec. Log sits under Video format for Video and Pro video when you will grade.
New in S26Photo Assist
Describe the edit in your own words. Galaxy AI can change a scene, restore missing pieces, or clean a stain.
UpgradedStorage & File Sizes
How much you can fit on your Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB / 512GB / 1TB)
4K 30fps Video Recording Time
256 GB
10
hrs
~350 MB/min at 4K30 HEVC
512 GB
21
hrs
Best value for most users
1 TB
43
hrs
Best for 8K & heavy shooting
| File Type | Format | Approximate Size |
|---|---|---|
| Photo (HEIF) | 12MP or 24MP (Prioritize quality) | 2 – 4 MB |
| Photo (Full Res) | 200MP JPEG | ~30 MB |
| Photo (Expert RAW) | 16-bit Linear DNG | ~100 MB |
| Video (HEVC 4K30) | HDR videos | ~350 MB/min |
| Video (HEVC 4K60) | HDR videos | ~500 MB/min |
| Video (8K30) | HEVC | ~600 MB/min |
| Video (4K120) | HEVC | ~800 MB/min |
USB recording: Camera settings include Save extra storage, which writes video to a USB drive. Use that for 4K, 8K, or APV. Pick 512GB or 1TB if you stay on internal storage.
Pro Tips & Gotchas
Galaxy S26 Ultra-specific camera settings and gotchas
200MP and 24MP
- 200MP is in Quick controls → Resolution on the 1× Wide camera
- Photo enhancer must be Prioritize quality for 24MP at 0.6–1.9× and 5–9.9×
- Close-up, burst, flash, Night mode, and document scan fall back to 12MP
APV and Log
- Video format → APV is Ultra-only hardware
- Set Log to Video and Pro video modes, then tap the APV or Log chip
- Leave both off for clips you share straight from the phone
Super Steady
- Video mode: tap Super Steady, then Horizontal Lock
- Keeps the horizon level if you rotate
- Not available on the front camera, Pro Video, or Portrait Video
Expert RAW
- Install from the Galaxy Store; open it from the More tab
- Saves JPEG plus a 16-bit Linear DNG
- Edit the DNG in Lightroom or Snapseed
Zoom and heat
- Stay on 0.6×, 1×, 3×, 5×, and 10× for the cleanest files
- Space Zoom past 10× can show deterioration; use it for framing
- 8K and 4K 120fps run hot. Keep those clips short
Launch and S Pen
- Double-press the Side button after enabling it in Settings → Advanced features → Side button
- S Pen works as a remote shutter on the Ultra
- Shooting methods: set Volume to Take pictures or record video
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra
What changed for cameras between generations
Feature
S25 Ultra
S26 Ultra
Chip
Snapdragon 8 Elite
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Wide
200MP ƒ/1.7
200MP ƒ/1.4 Brighter
5× Telephoto
50MP ƒ/3.4
50MP ƒ/2.9 Brighter
Ultra Wide
50MP ƒ/1.9
50MP ƒ/1.9
3× Telephoto
10MP ƒ/2.4
10MP ƒ/2.4
APV codec
—
Yes New
Super Steady
Yes
Horizontal Lock New
8K Video
8K 30fps
8K 30fps
4K Slow-Mo
4K 120fps
4K 120fps
Software
One UI 7
Android 16, One UI 8.5
Display
6.9"
6.9"
Worth the upgrade? The hardware change that matters for photos is light: ƒ/1.4 on the Wide and ƒ/2.9 on the 5×. APV and Horizontal Lock are the video reasons to switch. Ultra Wide and 3× stay the same. Shopping for one? See Galaxy S26 Ultra listings on Amazon.
Common Questions
200MP, APV, Log, Expert RAW, Super Steady, and 4K 120fps.
How do I shoot 200MP photos on the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
In Photo mode, tap Quick controls (the four dots), then Resolution, and choose 200MP on the 1× Wide camera. Use it in good light; Photo enhancer set to Prioritize quality is required for 24MP at 0.6–1.9× and 5–9.9×, otherwise those zooms save at 12MP.
What cameras does the Galaxy S26 Ultra have?
Four rear cameras: 200MP Wide at ƒ/1.4 with 2× optical-quality zoom, 50MP Ultra Wide at ƒ/1.9, 10MP 3× telephoto at ƒ/2.4, and 50MP 5× telephoto at ƒ/2.9 with 10× optical-quality zoom. Digital zoom reaches 100×. The front camera is 12MP at ƒ/2.2 with autofocus.
How do I record Log or APV video on the S26 Ultra?
Open Camera, tap Quick controls, then Settings, then Video format. Turn on APV for the Ultra-only codec, and set Log to Video and Pro video modes. Footage looks flat so you can grade it; leave Log off for clips you share straight from the phone.
Can the Galaxy S26 Ultra record 8K and 4K 120fps?
Yes. Samsung lists 8K at 30fps and 4K at 120fps. APV on the Ultra also covers 8K at 24–30fps and UHD, FHD, or HD at 24–120fps. For most clips use 4K 30fps with High efficiency videos and HDR videos on.
Does the Galaxy S26 Ultra support Expert RAW?
Yes. Expert RAW is listed for the S26 Ultra and downloads from the Galaxy Store. It saves a JPEG plus a 16-bit Linear DNG with manual ISO, shutter, focus, and white balance.
What is Super Steady Horizontal Lock on the S26 Ultra?
In Video mode, tap Super Steady, then Horizontal Lock. The phone uses the gyro and accelerometer to keep the horizon level even if you rotate. Super Steady is not available on the front camera, Pro Video, or Portrait Video.
What changed in the S26 Ultra cameras vs S25 Ultra?
The Wide camera opens to ƒ/1.4 (47% more light than the S25 Ultra ƒ/1.7) and the 5× telephoto opens to ƒ/2.9 (37% more light than ƒ/3.4). The Ultra is the first Galaxy with the APV codec. Ultra Wide stays 50MP ƒ/1.9 and 3× stays 10MP ƒ/2.4.
How do I turn on Scene optimizer on the S26 Ultra?
Open Camera, tap Quick controls (four dots), then Settings, then Photo enhancer. Turn Scene optimizer on. It is rear-camera only and adjusts exposure, contrast, and white balance for the detected scene.
What are the best video settings for the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
For most clips use UHD 4K 30fps with High efficiency videos, HDR videos, and Video stabilization on, and Auto FPS off. Use 4K 60fps for action, 4K 120fps for short slow-mo, and Log or APV only when you will grade the footage.